Cylinder support dolly



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C filiNDER SUPPORT DOLLY Filed Nov. 6, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HerbertBarman JNVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,391,570 CYLINDER SUPPORT DOLLY Herbert I. Berman,Lancaster, Pa., assignor to Penn- Chem Corporation, a corporation ofPennsylvania Filed Nov. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 409,524 7 Claims. (Cl.28047.13)

The present invention generally relates to the supporting andtransporting of elongated cylindrical gas containers or cylinders, andis more particularly directed to the provision of a combinationsupporting base and carrier for such cylinders.

One of the primary objects of the instant invention is the provision ofa device which is adapted to be engaged with the lower portion of a gascylinder in a manner so as to form an enlarged stable supporting basetherefor, and which also functions, upon a tipping of the cylinder, as awheeled carriage for moving the cylinder.

In conjunction with the above object, it is also an object of theinstant invention to provide for a stable supporting of the cylinderthrough the provision of an enlarged base, thereby eliminating thenecessity of stnapping or chaining the cylinder to walls, laboratorybenches, etc., such as is now conventionally required.

Likewise, a significant object of the instant invention is to provide asupport which can be attached to or removed from a cylinder without thenecessity of disturbing the various gauges, control valves, gas lines,etc., which might be attached to the cylinder.

In achieving the above object, it is contemplated that the device of theinstant invention be made of releasably interlockable sections which areuniquely adapted for accommodating a variety of different diametercylinders.

Furthermore, an important object of the instant invention is to providea device which not only provides a stable support for the cylinder, butalso insures that the cylinder will be, in effect, a completely mobileunit at all times.

In addition, it is an object of the instant invention to provide adevice which is of a sturdy, safe and highly durable nature capable ofbeing economically produced and conveniently used.

Basically, the device of the instant invention, made preferably of heavycast iron with a non-sparking corrosion resistant finish, consists of apair of low arcuate or semi-circular sections having verticallyelongated dovetail or undercut type of tongue and groove joints on thefacing ends thereof for releasable interlocking engagement insurrounding relationship to the lower portion of a cylinder. Bothsections are provided with longitudinally adjustable threaded rods orbolts which engage and clamp the cylinder therebet'ween, this allowingfor a variation in the size of cylinder to which the support can beattached. Finally, a pair of wheels or rollers, preferably of heavy-dutynon-conductive rubber, are mounted on one of thesections in :a manner soas to be out of engagement with the floor when the support ishorizontally orientated and the cylinder standing upright, and so as tocontact the floor, and form a complete support for both the support andthe cylinder, upon a tilting of the cylinder, thereby allowing awheeling or moving of the cylinder at will.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming-a part hereof, whereinlike numenals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a conventional gas cylinder having thedevice of the instant invention mounted thereon;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the two sections whichcomprise the support and carrier of this invention;

FIGURE 3 is a partial elevational view illustrating the orientation ofthe device during movement;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the device, with the cylinder being shownin phantom lines;

FIGURE 5 is a general cross-sectional view through one of the sections;and

FIGURE 6 is a bottom plan view of the device.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 19 isused to generally design-ate the support comprising the instantinvention. This support, with reference to FIGURE 1, is to be engagedabout the lower portion of a conventional gas cylinder 12 in a manner soas to have the fiat base thereof coplanar with the bottom of thecylinder 12 whereby both the base and cylinder bottom will engage thefloor.

Referring to FIGURE 2, it will be noted that the support 10, which is infact also a carrier, consists of two arculate or semi-circular sections14 and 16. These sections 14 and 16 include semi-circular vertical innerwalls 18 and 20 and integral outwardly tapered or diverging outer walls22 and 24 terminating in a short vertical lower end portion. Bot-h wallsof each of the sections 14 and 16 define hollow interiors and have thelower ends thereof coplanar so as to provide a flat base. In this mannera sturdy and stable base is provided without excessive weight. Withreference to the bottom plan view of the support 10, FIGURE 6, it willbe noted that transverse bracing ribs 26 are also provided between theinner and outer walls.

The section 16 differs from the section 14 in that the central or rearportion thereof is provided with a straight edge 28. This rear edge 28,along with the outer wall 24, includes a pair of vertical notches 30therein, each notch receiving one of the wheels or rollers 32 which arein turn rotatably mounted between integral upwardly projecting ears 34.These wheels 32, as will be appreciated from the drawings, are mountedso as to project rearwardly from the straight rear edge 28 and, when thebase is positioned flat on the floor in its supporting position as shownin FIGURE 1, out of contact or above the floor surface, thereby enablingthe flat base of the support 10 to engage the floor in surroundingrelation to the cylinder 12. It will be noted that the tapered wall 24of the section 16 is slightly outwardly bulged between the wheels 32,while the elongated rear edge 28 is undercut, as at 36, thereby bothreinforcing the support in the vicinity of the moving wheels, and alsofacilitating the rearward tipping of the cylinder 12 and support 10 soas to raise the combination onto the wheels 32 for movement.

As will be appreciated, the support 10 is provided in two sections 14and 16 so as to enable it to be applied to a cylinder 12 withoutdisturbing the cylinder or any elements attached thereto. Thus, in orderto interlock the sections 14 and 16 after being positioned about thecylinder 12, the ends of the sections 14 and 16 are vertically elongatedand provided with locking undercut or dovetailed tongues 38 and grooves40, whereby one section can he slid vertically into engagement with theother section.

This movement of one section relative to the other section can befacilitated by various cut-out portions 42 in the lower portion of theouter wall of at least one of the sections, as shown on the section 16,these cut-out portions 42 providing finger-holes whereby the section 16can be lowered to the floor in engagement with the section 14 withoutdanger of catching ones fingers beneath the heavy cast iron unit.

The cylinder 12, which can vary in diameter, is fixed within thecircular opening formed by semi-circular vertical inner walls 18 and 20by a plurality, three being illustrated, of threaded rods of bolts 44received through outwardly projecting bosses 46 and threadedly engagedwith either nuts 48 welded to the outer ends of the bosses 46, or withthe bosses 46 themselves which will accordingly be internally threaded.Each of the rods 44 is provided with an enlarged head 50 on the outerend thereof so as to facilitate its radial adjustment into or out of theopening formed by the sections 14 and 16, and consequently into or outof clamping engagement with the lower portion of the cylinder 12. Whilethe tongue and groove interlock between the sections 14 and 16 is to beslightly loose or sloppy so as to allow for a convenient interlocking ofthe sections 14 and 16, it will be appreciated that upon bringing therods or bolts 44 into clamping engagement with the cylinder 12, thesections 14 and 16 will be forced slightly away from each other so asto, through the tongues and grooves 38 and 40, rigidly interlock thesections both to each other and to the cylinder, so as to allow both thecombination support and carrier and the cylinder 12 to function as aunit, in either vertically stabilizing the cylinder or transporting thecylinder.

From the foregoing, it will be recognized that a highly novelcombination of a support and carrier has been defined. This support,consisting of two releasably interlockable sections, is engaged aboutthe lower end of a conventional gas cylinder in a manner whereby thefiat base of the support is coplanar with the bottom of the cylinder,thereby providing an enlarged stabilizing base which effectivelysupports the cylinder in a vertical position. In addition, through apair of rearwardly projecting wheels which are normally out of contactwith the supporting floor, movement of the cylinder is possible. Thismovement of the cylinder is accomplished by merely physically graspingthe cylinder and tilting it rearwardly upon the wheels, and then movingthe cylinder in the manner of a conventional hand truck. Upon reachingits new destination, the cylinder is positioned upright, thereby movingthe wheels out of contact with the floor, and at the same time, bringingthe enlarged flat base of the support into engagement with the floor insurrounding relation to the cylinder, all of this being accomplishedwithout chaining or strapping the cylinder in its installed position, orproviding a separate cart or truck for moving the cylinder.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A cylinder support removably engageable about the lower portion of acylinder, said support including a central opening and a flat baseprojecting outwardly from the central opening, means on said support forlocking the lower portion of a cylinder in said opening, roller means,and means rotatably mounting said roller means on the support, saidroller means projecting outward from said support, said roller meanssupporting the support and cylinder upon a tipping of the support aboutthe projecting portion of the roller means, thereby enabling a movementof the support and cylinder on the roller means, said support consistingof a plurality of individual sections positionable about a cylinder, andmeans releasably interlocking adjoining ends of the sections so as tocompletely surround the cylinder.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for locking the lower portionof a cylinder in the opening comprises a plurality of rod meansprojecting into the opening at peripherally spaced points thereabout,and means for locking the rod means in a plurality of longitudinallyprojected positions for the clamping of the cylinder therebetween.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said roller means projects laterallyoutward from the support completely above the plane of the flat base.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein each support section includes avertical inner wall defining a portion of the opening, and a taperedupper wall extending from the upper edge of the inner wall to the outeredge of the flat base.

5. A cylinder support removably engageable about the lower portion of acylinder, said support including a central opening and a flat baseprojecting outwardly from the central opening, and means on said supportfor locking the lower portion of a cylinder in said opening, saidsupport consisting of a plurality of individual sections positionableabout a cylinder, and means releasably interlocking adjoining ends ofthe sections so as to completely surround the cylinder, the means forlocking the lower portion of a cylinder in the opening comprising aplurality of rod means projecting into the opening at peripherallyspaced points thereabout, and means for locking the rod means in aplurality of longitudinally projected positions for the clamping of thecylinder therebetween.

6. A combination support and carrier for a gas cylinder comprising apair of arcuate sections positionable about a cylinder in facingrelation to each other so as to surround the cylinder, means forreleasably interlocking the adjoining ends of the sections, saidsections having flat coplanar bases orientatable in the same plane asthe base of the cylinder, means locking the sections to the cylinder,and roller means rotatably mounted on one section, said roller meansprojecting laterally outward from said one section above the plane ofthe fiat coplanar bases to movably support the interlocked sections andthe cylinder upon a tipping of the cylinder and sections locked theretoabout the roller means.

7. A combination support and carrier adapted for removable engagementabout the lower portion of an upright container, said support comprisinga plurality of individual sections positionable about the lower portionof an upright container, means for releasably interlocking the adjacentends of the sections so as to surround the container, means on saidsupport for locking the lower portion of a surrounded upright containertherein, said sections having horizontal bases forming a peripheralsurface engaging support base positionable about a section surroundedupright container in outwardly extending relation thereto, roller means,and means rotatably mounting said roller means on one of said sections,said roller means projecting laterally outward from said one sectionabove the plane of the horizontal base thereon, said roller meanssupporting the support and upright container upon a tipping of thesupport about the projecting portion of the roller means, therebyenabling a movement of the support and container on said roller means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 105,061 7/1870French 248-346 X 806,885 12/1905 Focht 28047.26 2,318,231 5/1943 Katzman28047.27 X 3,064,991 11/1962 Huthsing 28047.26 3,217,478 11/1965 DeGeere 280--47.32 X

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

J. A. PEKAR, Assistant Examiner.

1. A CYLINDER SUPPORT REMOVABLY ENGAGEABLE ABOUT THE LOWER PORTION OF ACYLINDER, SAID SUPPORT INCLUDING A CENTRAL OPENING AND A FLAT BASEPROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM THE CENTRAL OPENING, MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT FORLOCKING THE LOWER PORTION OF A CYLINDER IN SAID OPENING, ROLLER MEANS,AND MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTING SAID ROLLER MEANS ON THE SUPPORT, SAIDROLLER MEANS PROJECTING OUTWARD FROM SAID SUPPORT, SAID ROLLER MEANSSUPPORTING THE SUPPORT AND CYLINDER UPON A TIPPING OF THE SUPPORT ABOUTTHE PROJECTING PORTION OF THE ROLLER MEANS, THEREBY ENABLING A MOVEMENTOF THE SUPPORT AND CYLINDER ON THE ROLLER MEANS, SAID SUPPORT CONSISTINGOF A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS POSITIONABLE ABOUT A CYLINDER, ANDMEANS RELEASABLY INTERLOCKING ADJOINING ENDS OF THE SECTIONS SO AS TOCOMPLETELY SURROUND THE CYLINDER.